Brand New OFFICIAL Twilight Trailer on ET *7/15/08*

Another Trailer-What do you think?

Memories

I think about 8 of my links have been doing this, and it seems like fun, so here you go.

1. Leave one memory that you and I had together, as a comment on my blog. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Camping with The Cousins

My memories from when I was a child are disappearing rapidly. Seriously, my memory sucks-and I'm lucky to remember things from 5 years ago. (So sad!) But I have wonderful memories from camping when I was younger. We went a lot back then, and always with our cousins. It seemed so easy back then, we relaxed, slept amazing, and didn't have a care in the world.

So when my cousin Amber came to visit from Connecticut we were all thrilled to go camping together again. The dynamic is a bit different then it was when we were younger with all of us grown up. It was anything but relaxing with 9 kids, 14 adults, and 1 dog. It was freezing one night and we constantly worried that our kids were too cold, so that left us sleepless, and we couldn't seem to have an eye on both of our kids at all the whole vacation. (Thanks everyone for always finding Sienna when she went exploring!)

I realized that camping is totally exhausting, and realized that way back when we were little my parents were anything but relaxed, but also-there is nothing like watching your kids really dig into it. So yes, we will put ourselves through hell again next year, because the kids loved it. It's our turn to worry a lot and sleep a little. And I really hope that my kids have those wonderful memories that we created back then.

It wasn't all stress though, I will admit. We ate. And ate. And ate. We were the super loud annoying campers who laughed till midnight, and I mean really laughed. Our families have been through a lot together, and it was so fun to get all the cousins together again, this time with kids of our own, and husbands and wives. We laughed about old times, and I'm fairly certain that we created some things we will laugh about on our next camping trip.

And we learned how Patrick Swayze lost his cool. (I had to throw that in Sue!) Love you.

Please forgive me for all the pics. Since I suck as scrapbooking and journaling, this is my way to look back, and I can't seem to narrow it down!

This is Amber's little girl Mirelle. She is 6, and her and Adyson hit it off beautifully. I have to say you haven't lived till you've heard Mirelle's version of the scary story "bloody fingers."

The Sexy campers. Really Sexy.My beauties. Seriously, how do they look so cute camping?Some pics of Good ol' Bear Lake. The girls loved being there, and we really relaxed the day away. Too bad we all came home with sunburns.All the kiddies. I don't know how many pics we have of us and our cousins just like this-same picture, different generation.

If your wondering...

If my blog is EVER going private-here is your answer. I was planning on doing it yesterday. (It's taken this long out of sheer laziness). But it says only 100 people are allowed to be invited to your blog, and I had about 120 to invite. So I guess for now I will stay open.

Dear Perverts and Crazy people,

Please leave my kids alone.

Sincerely,
Us

July Is Fun

It's nuts how packed our calender is for July. We have something fun going on every weekend, and plenty during the week too. This week has been packed with cousins, and my girls have loved every second of it.

Sunday my mom picked up Breje, Trayson, and Kutter and has them for the whole week. So we had a BBQ at our house and lit some fireworks.

Sienna thought they were oh so pretty, but hated the noise!

All the cousins-except Brielle, who we miss. Really, really, really miss. Notice both my girls plugging their ears.This was taken after the 2nd firework. It went from the cousins, to the neighborhood. It was a lot of fun to have them all there-I wish the lighting was better because Allie was totally eating licorice. I told you, you have to have it at the fireworks.

Seriously, she didn't take those fingers out of her ears the whole night.And tonight we went with the Kidman's to the pool to celebrate Tiffany's birthday. The girls were thrilled that they got to see both sets of cousins-and we had a lot of fun.

Little miss Rheagen, always ready to pose for a picture.

The fam Tiff and the girls eating their very blue, very melted, very messy cupcakes.

And then giving her very blue frosting birthday kisses. Admit it Tiff, you loved them!

I loved this shot of the cuties all snuggled up just before we left. I love these smiles!

Don't get too sick of me posting in July, like I said, we have a lot going on and I love to blog about it so I don't forget any details.

I also wanted to update you all on Trav since I haven't for a while. He is doing pretty good and last week had his 6th treatment, so that means this week he gets a MUCH needed break. Then he will do 6 more before the next scan. We still appreciate all your prayers and concern and constantly are thankful for so many wonderful friends!

We Heart Fireworks

I love the Fourth of July...well really, the 3rd of July. (Why again does Logan do their fireworks on the 3rd?) Maybe I should start over by saying I love the fireworks. Really, really, love them. I love being outside with about a million other people all eating licorice. (Doesn't everyone buy licorice on the 4th?) I love watching my kid's faces while they watch the magic. I love that the night is such an unusual family night.

We go to the same park every year. (Cami, Jill...where were you this year?) It is a night when we meet up with neighborhood friends from when I was much younger. People I consider family. We sit in the same spot, and it seems like there is always someone new joining the circle.

For some reason this year I found myself feeling very thankful, maybe even more so than Thanksgiving. I watched the fireworks with my girls and saw the pure awe in their eyes, and felt incredibly thankful for them. I sat next to Trav, and felt blessed that he is who he is. I felt thankful that he is so strong and so humble. And I sat around family and friends, who are always taking care of us and mostly making us laugh. Admittedly, I didn't think as much as I should have about how blessed I am to live in the Country, but I am thankful for that too. The only rotten part about our fireworks experience, is that I forgot my camera. I did take some pics from my mom's camera, and hopefully someday I will figure out how to get them on my computer...

Until then, here are a few pics of the girls all dolled up in their best red, white, and blue gear. I tried really hard to get a great picture of them, but they were much to excited to look at the camera. Oh well, maybe next year.

The rest of the weekend was spent going to the celebration center, where the kids had a go at the Carousel. Swimming, and just being together as a family.

And now the next Holiday is Halloween.

Sweet Sienna

Please forgive the Popsicle face, t-shirt Jammie's, and crazy hair. Sweet Sienna spent the day at the doctors today...and isn't feeling too great. She just wanted to cuddle up with Daddy, eat an orange Popsicle and watch cartoons. I had to post her singing the same tune Adyson sang the other day. She doesn't put near as much flavor in it, but it sure sounds sweet. We sure love our Enna bug.

Oh, and happy Birthday Tiffany! We love you!

A family affair

gOur weekend was crazy busy. Crazy. Busy. So I will ask you once again to forgive my ridiculous amount of pictures, it seems blogging has made me picture happy....among other things.

The weekend happily started with a dinner at Chilli's. For 13 people...6 adults, 7 kids. Stupid? You decide. There were so many there because Jody and Heather and the kids were able to come! (It made every ones weekend and we were so happy they were here!)

I loved these pictures of the kids while waiting for a table.

After dinner we went to Grandma's house...and somehow they talked her into Popsicles for dessert. Notice how Grandpa is joining in the fun, sometimes I think he is the biggest kid of the bunch!

Then Saturday we had a Johnson Family Reunion. This was a first for us, and it turned out to be really fun. We all met at my moms school, ate the takeout of our choice, and played in the gym. Adyson was thrilled because there was a stage there, and she put on a small concert. The kids loved having so much space to just be free and run around. After a while we played an impromptu game of baseball, which started to get more competitive by the second. We even got good old Grandpa to get out there.

And here's the whole crew. We missed those of you who didn't come!

The rest of the weekend was spent playing in Grandma's pool-and slip-n-slide. Some of the kids were pretty good at it....

And some couldn't quite figure it out. (Are you surprised that my girls weren't quite coordinated enough?) We love em'.

And of course, more Popsicles. Lucky kids.

Oh and Adyson was thrilled to have one more person to practice her "hair doing" skills on. Thanks for being such a good sport Jody!

The crappiest club in the world

I've written before about a friend of mine from highschool who's 2 year old son had cancer. For a while in highschool we had boyfriends who were best friends, and we hung out together quite a lot. And of course, sadly, after highschool we drifted apart. I would hear things about her occasionally from other friends, but we never spoke, and I still haven't seen her in years.

I remember hearing that her son was diagnosed with cancer, keep in mind he is Sienna's age. I was heartbroken. At this time Travis was in remission, but I remembered too well how awful it feels to hear the word 'cancer' about someone you love....and worse about your baby.

One of my best friends is also her cousin, and she told me about Mason's website, and I found her e-mail address and we started e-mailing back and forth. I would read her e-mails and sob. Like a baby. Picturing the hell her family was going through.

And then a few months later Trav's cancer came back, and we cried together via e-mail. I imagined the horror of watching your child go through this, and she imagined watching her husband go through this. I remember e-mailing her saying we are part of a club, a really. really. really. crappy club! I am so happy that we were able to reconnect through cancer. And before I continue, I have to add that Mason is home, and happy and healthy. What a blessing and a miracle for their family-and what a fighter he is!

But today I feel guilty. The reason? I came home yesterday to a surprise on my doorstep. A package from Michelle. Full of fun and uplifting goodies. And it made my day. It helped me remember that we are always being thought of and prayed for, and it just plain old put a smile on my face! What an amazing person she is to think of me, after all she has been through. She found time to do something for me.

I have thought time and time again, that I should send them something wonderful, but I never have. And I don't know how many times I have thought...I should send so and so something, or call someone who I know is having a bad day.

The moral. If she can find the time to do something for me, then anyone can find the time to do something nice. Michelle, if you are reading this, first, thankyou. Not only did it make my day, but it made me want to be more like you! Second, we will get our curly headed kids to play very soon. And third, start a blog. :).

Here is the website for Mason. http://www.teammason.us/. If you read his updates you can see what an amazing family they are!

She sent me this awesome t-shirt, Travis is jealous-so I am ordering him one too. :)-and this beautiful neclace. I wish the picture was better, but is simply says hope on it. Beautiful right?

Big Girl Bed

When Adyson turned 2 we asked my dad, being the handy man he is, to make Adyson a big girl bed. He did-and of course he did a great job. So we asked him to do the same for Sienna. (They both love that Grandpa made their beds, and I think it makes them unique and special.)

We finally got around to putting the big girl bed up this weekend and getting her room all together. I think it turned out perfect, so Thankyou dad! I'm already thinking of your next project!

Sienna did pretty good for her first night. She layed in their and talked with Minne Mouse for a while and then finally fell asleep. This picture is of her when we woke her up from nap time today. Doesn't she look comfy?